Frequently Asked Questions During Emergencies

Knowing how to handle a dental emergency can mean the difference between saving or losing a tooth.

Tooth Knocked Out:  First try to stick the tooth back in place and hold it there while you rush to see the dentist.  If that's possible, put the tooth in a container of milk (or water if milk is not available) and take it and the patient to the dentist immediately.

Fractured Tooth:  To avoid further aggravating the damaged tooth, place a piece of soft wax into the area of the tooth that was chipped.  You should eat only soft food and try to avoid food and drink that are hot and cold to the touch.

Fractured Jaw:  If you find that your jaw hurts when it is moved or if you cannot close your mouth in a normal fashion, it is likely that you have fractured your jaw.  Seek close professional medical help at a hospital emergency room.  The hospital will be able to treat your injury as well as advise you whether you need to make an appointment to see your dentist.

Bitten Tongue or Lip:  Biting or lacerating your tongue may cause inflammation and possible bleeding.  Use ice or pressure to control the swelling or bleeding.  Any swelling should subside within twenty-four hours.  Contact your Dentist if the pain persists or the laceration is deep.

Bleeding After an Extraction:  Slight bleeding after an extraction is normal.  A clot will usually form within one hour.  If bleeding continues, place a thick gauze pad over the extraction site.  Apply pressure to the area to control the flow of blood.  If bleeding still persists, you may try soaking a tea bag in water, placing it inside a thin gauze pad, and apply pressure for one hour.  The tea leaves contain minerals which may aid in the clotting procedure.

Mouth Sores:  Canker sores are those very small and painful sores which occur inside the mouth.  They can be caused by stress, biting the inside of the mouth or by a reaction to certain foods.  If you find that you have developed a canker sore on the inside of the mouth, apply an over-the-counter medication like Orajel or campho-phenique.  This will produce a bandage-like film over the sore.

Toothache:  An aching tooth is a very common dental emergency.  A toothache is often a sign of infection in or around a tooth.  Tylenol or aspirin can sometimes be effective in comforting pain.  If there is a hole in the tooth, you may place Oil of Cloves on a small cotton pellet and place it in the site to relieve pain.